Montpellier have rejected an initial offer from Fenerbahce for Younes Belhanda, keeping the door open for Tottenham to steal the Morocco international’s signature.

Younes Belhanda could be set for a move to the Premier League

While Belhanda, 22, prepares for the upcoming African Cup of Nations in South Africa, his club future remains undecided. According to radio station RMC, after meeting their Fenerbahce counterparts on Tuesday, Montpellier officials broke off talks, with the Turkish club's offer of €9 million falling short of the French champions' €15 million valuation of the midfielder.

French media previously claimed on Monday that Belhanda had all but agreed personal terms with Fenerbahce on a contract worth €2.4 million-a-year after tax.

Spurs have also been linked to the player who shone in his role as a playmaker behind Olivier Giroud last season, contributing 12 goals and four assists, as one of the chief architects of Montpellier's maiden title.

Montpellier president Louis Nicollin admitted on RMC on Monday he would allow Belhanda to leave, with the player "not having lived up to the promise" he had shown previously.

"Go on then, €15 million and everything will be fine. I also think he wants to leave," Nicollin said. "It's normal that he goes elsewhere and flourishes. I think at Montpellier, that's it, it's finished."

Nicollin added he "would prefer an English club" to come in for Belhanda, suggesting there would be little trouble getting the transfer fee from a Premier League team.

"It's difficult to say that you don't trust a club like Fenerbahce, which has more credit than Montpellier, but if they give the money, there's no problem."